Eighty-two cement Cemex UK delivery drivers are to hold a work-to-rule, followed by a one-day strike.
The truck drivers at Cemex UK Operations overwhelmingly voted for industrial action in a dispute over pay.
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Eighty-two cement Cemex UK delivery drivers are to hold a work-to-rule, followed by a one-day strike[/caption]
The 82 tanker drivers, members of the Unite union, rejected Cemex’s offer of a 1.6% increase on pay and allowances backdated to 1 July 2016. They returned an 87% vote in favour of strike action and action short of strike.
A continuous work to rule will begin on Monday 22 May followed by an initial 24 hour strike on Friday 26 May.
The drivers, who supply bulk cement in the UK, are based at four depots: Rugby, Tilbury, Barton-on-Humber and Newport. The work to rule will include drivers: adhering to 48 hours maximum working week, adhering to 11 hours’ daily rest, adhering to 45 hour weekly rest period, no electronic proof of delivery on while driving, no unpaid training of drivers, no supervisor intervention work to be carried out by drivers on electronic proof of delivery.
Adrian Jones, Unite national officer for road transport, said: “Cemex still has time to avert this dispute by returning to the negotiating table and making an offer which meets our members’ expectations and properly rewards them for their skills, dedication and hard work. If Cemex doesn’t act and this dispute goes ahead it will create chaos throughout the construction industry. Sites will swiftly run out of materials which will create delays throughout the entire project.”
A Cemex spokesperson said: "The offer made to our HGV cement tanker drivers, representing fewer than 2.5% of the Cemex UK workforce, is the same as that already in place for the rest of our 3,000 UK employees and relates to the pay increase awarded for last year (2016). Cemex UK always seeks to proactively engage with all our drivers and Unite."
Cemex has contingency plans in place to ensure a continued supply of bulk cement to customers. "Cemex UK very much regrets that Unite has called a ballot of HGV cement tanker drivers delivering bulk cement, based at a number of our cement supply depots, seeking approval for industrial action. Cemex UK has a robust contingency in place should our HGV cement tanker drivers resort to any industrial action, and we will ensure a continued supply of bulk cement to all of our customers. Supply of all other Cemex UK products is not affected by this ballot," the Cemex spokesperson said.
